The note
How schools teach it now
Year 5 and 6 maths covers quarter, half and three-quarter turns, clockwise and anticlockwise. The 11+ strategy: pick one small part of the figure, follow where it goes as you turn, and check it's still on the same side of the rest. Mirror images are the classic trap.
5-minute kitchen-table activity
Cut an L shape from a cereal box and draw a dot on one side. Turn it on the table a quarter turn at a time, saying clockwise or anticlockwise. Then flip it over: the dot vanishes, showing a flip is not a turn.
Worked example
An L shape has a tall upright line with a short foot pointing right at the bottom. Which is it turned a half turn: (a) foot at the top pointing left, (b) foot at the bottom pointing left, (c) foot at the top pointing right?
- A half turn moves the bottom to the top, so the foot goes to the top.
- It also moves right to left, so the foot now points left.
- (b) and (c) are mirror images: they need a flip, not a turn.
Answer: (a) foot at the top pointing left
Common mistakes to watch for
- Choosing a mirror image because it looks almost right.
- Mixing up clockwise and anticlockwise.
- Checking only the big shape and not the small parts.
Encouragement
- Try saying
- “Follow one small part as it turns. You're training your brain to see shapes.”
- Rather than
- “Just picture it, it's easy.”